Media Village Sprouts In Orlando For Trial

Police photos of Zimmerman's injuries

More than 200 journalists and media types are expected to be coverage the second degree murder trial of George Zimmerman  which gets underway today at the Seminole County  Justice Center in Sanford, Florida.

Zimmerman is accused of murder in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012.

The trial is expected to be a bellweather for Florida’s Stand Your Grounds law.  Zimmerman, who was a member of a neighborhood watch program, claims he was attacked by and shot him in self-defense.  Martin allegedly had Zimmerman pinned to the ground and had slammed Zimmerman’s head into the ground.

The prosecution is going to claim that Zimmerman profiled, pursued and killed the un-armed Martin after he left a nearby 7/11. Martin was in the neighborhood visiting family friends.

The selection of a jury starts today.  Six jurors and four alternates will be chosen for the trial which also has civil rights and racial overtones. Zimmerman is white, Martin black.

Orlando area radio and TV stations as well as the major broadcast and CableTV outlets are covering the trial which is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks.

Courtroom seating assignments:

Selection of a jury, comprised of six jurors and four alternates,  is expected to take one to three weeks and the trial is expected to last from four to six weeks.  In seat 30 is Orlando-based blogger Dave Knechel.